Check back tomorrow!

Two more new family favorites from Everyday Food successfully debuted for Sunday linner (late lunch/early dinner)! Cookies so good that when I gave my manicurist a couple to sample, I got an extra cuticle treatment!

Netflix Stars - The Astronaut Farmer

"The Astronaut Farmer" Finally a pretty decent PG-rated movie all could watch. A good message film and fun. 3.75 out of 5 stars. Excellent casting -- I still think Billy Bob Thornton is a little creepy (be sure to watch the outtake special feature), but he is well-suited and does good with his character. The writers' daughters are the girls in the movie - they looked like they had a great time. And one of the writers is one of the FBI agents. Lots of subtle and not so subtle references in names and situations (the names of the characters, etc.). And the lighting is incredible...It should have won an Oscar, if it didn't.

Turn on your nightlight

Our Costco just got these in and they were flying out today -- $11.79 for three. The Santa face is clear versus the penguin's and snowman's frosty-ness, so it didn't really photograph that well. Individually boxed, these would also make great gifts. (The snowman is for my mom. She can put it up before Christmas and keep using it into February. That's why I like to make, use and give snowpeople, they don't shout "Christmas!," they can stay for the winter. Same with the penguin, he even has a heart on his scarf - Valentine Penguin?)

Christmas Magazine Porn

Tried to resist, but Costco had these packaged as a 2-fer, and 30% off. . .

Sew Somerset

Premier issue, just out at Barnes & Noble. Love it! (Sigh, just wish they weren't so darn expensive. But still cheaper than a book and packed with a wider spectrum of ideas.)

The Journey's End for Flower

Brave Flower, not only welcoming and adopting Axl (named after Axl Rose?) left behind by the Zappas hasty retreat, but valiantly giving her life defending her pups from the Cape snake. Who will become the new dominant female of the Whiskers? Maybelline or Daisy, both already in a family way? Or someone else?

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

and reading material! Three days in a row, and enthusiasm wanes considerably. The proverbial carrot was being able to read The New York Times' Thursday Style and House & Home sections, and the latest issue of US Weekly (Costco, 30% off).

The Fray, "Over My Head", 3:56
How to Save a Life

Today's stats: 54 minutes, 3 miles, 312 calories

Project Runway Season 4

Debuts November 14 - just in time for Fall Sweeps!

Well, DANG!

I was at Jo-Ann's yesterday and thought I would use my expiring 40% off coupon on the October/November issue of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion. What caught my eye -- "Sew Your Own Harvest-Hued Pincushions" tease on the cover. I flip to pages 100 and 102 and think, "these are cute!" and decide to purchase the magazine. Lo and behold when I get home, no directions, but a mention the fabrics and patterns are from Purl Patchwork. I was looking for a quick and easy project right then and there. The pattern is actually an Indygo Junction, click here for the details (currently sold out) The Purl website looks like it would be fun to poke around, though.

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

The Guess Who, "American Woman" 3:53
Today's stats: 45 minutes, 2.58 miles, 306 calories

Yesterday's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Billy Strange, "Washington Square", 2:52
Yesterday's stats: 45 minutes, 3,500 calories (I wish!)
Halfway through I hit the Pause button and it erased the numbers!

What's baking in the oven today?

These! Chocolate Chip Walnut Blondies from Everyday Food. Which is quickly becoming my favorite foodie magazine. I still like Cooking Light, but lately they've had rather odd recipes/ingredient combinations my family would look upon with suspicion. Light & Tasty, Taste of Home, Simple & Delicious have also only had a couple in each issue I'm willing to try.

Note to self: Take photo first before nibbling!

From Everyday Food, #45, September 2007, page 166

Yesterday's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Prince and The Revolution, "Let's Go Crazy" 7:35
Ultimate
Yesterday's stats: 45 minutes, 2.61 miles, 312 calories

Ginger Carrot Soup

From the January/February 2007 Everyday Food #39 - "Special Light Issue" Carrots, sweet potatoes and ginger warm you up with beta carotene. I flat freeze the leftovers in 1 quart size Zip-locs. You'll be glad to have a Cuisinart, unless you are a Food Network-worthy chopper. An immersion blender is also your best friend. I use a large onion and slightly smaller piece of ginger (1 1/2"), otherwise they can overpower. I also leave out the lemon juice and cream. Recipe says it serves 8, but I'm able to freeze 10 portions.

GINGER-CARROT SOUP

2 tablespoons olive oil...2 medium onions, chopped...2 pounds carrots, chopped...2 sweet potatoes (1 1/4 pounds total), peeled and chopped...1 2" piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped (2 tablespoons)...2 cans 14.5 ounce each reduced sodium chicken broth...4 cups water...coarse salt and pepper...2-3 teaspoons sugar...2-3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice...1/4 cup heavy cream (optional)

In a large 5 quart saucepan, heat oil over medium; add onions and cook, stirring occasionally until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add carrots, sweet pototatoes, ginger, broth and 4 cups water. Season with salt and pepper.

Bring to boil, reduce to a simmer and cook until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes. Use an immersion blender or puree mixture in batches in a blender until smooth. Add sugar and lemon juice to taste. Heat over medium and add cream if desired.

From Everyday Food, #39, January/February 2007

Costco find-Kashi Mountain Medley Granola

I have also seen this at Super Target and HEB, but the Costco-sized 40 ounces is a better deal. How they came up with "Mountain Medley" is beyond me. Cranberries, raisins, almonds, pecans, sunflower seeds and 7 whole grains. Yummy, but what is mountain-y? This is one time when you eat the portion size (1/2 cup), it truly does fill you up. That 220 calorie 1/2 cup gives you 25% of your fiber and 300 mg of Omega 3 in addition to 6g protein and only 12g of sugar.

Chocolate Mint Cookies

From the "All New Cooking Light Complete Cookbook" 2006, page 157...these taste just like the GS Thin Mints, only chewy and low fat. This was in the "Slice & Bake" cookie section, but I'm not that good with making these that way. The dough is really gooey, just plop them by spoonfuls directly onto the baking sheet. You get to eat them faster! A couple of hints - it is 1/4 teaspoon of peppermint extract, the first time I misread and added 1/2 tsp, they were very minty! (But still edible!) Also, the recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of applesauce. Instead of buying a jar and having it go funky in the fridge, I buy the 1 cup unsweetened applesauces, in the 6 pack size. There's enough in there for this recipe and a little extra for a taste! The recipe does not specify unsweet or regular applesauce, but if you are trying to watch sugar and save a few calories, you can successfully go with the unsweetened.

Chocolate-Mint Cookies
1 cup flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 large egg white, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350 if you are not doing the slice and bake. Combine flour, cocoa and baking soda in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Combine brown sugar and the next five ingredients in a medium bowl, beat with a mixer at high speed for 2 minutes. Beat in egg white. Add flour mixture, beat at low speed until well-blended. (For slice and bake-coat hands lightly with cooking spray. Shape dough into a 6 inch log. Wrap log in plastic wrap, freeze for 1 hour or until firm. Cut log into 24 1/4 inch slices). Place by rounded teaspoonfuls 1 inch apart on baking sheets lightly coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Remove, let cool on wire rack.
Makes 24 cookies
Each - 76 calories (22% from fat), 1.8g fat (sat 1.1mg, mono 0.5g, poly 0.1g), protein 1.2g, carb 13.7g, fiber 0.2g, chol 4mg, iron 0.7mg, sodium 33mg, calcium 8mg.

Today'sFavorite iPod Workout Song

Full Blown Rose, "Somebody Help Me" (theme from "Tru Calling") 3:16
iTunes
Today's stats: 41 minutes, 2.37 miles, 283 calories

Mommy Millionaire

Mommy Millionaire - How I turned my kitchen table idea into a million dollars and how you can, too! Kim Lavine, 2007. ISBN: 0-312-35457-6 Library Call No. 658.11

An educational and peek-behind-the-business-curtain read! Step-by-step, she goes into all the financial details and dilemmas involved with launching a business, with lots of excellent how-to advice. This isn't for craft shows, this is for hitting the big-time. You'll also realize why so many things are made in China. Very well-written, it will give you a new understanding and appreciation for those entrepreneurs who overcome the obstacles and succeed. Check out her websites, Green Daisy and Mommy Millionaire for more updates and inspiration.

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Amii Stewart, "Knock on Wood" 3:43
Pure Disco
Today's stats: 45 minutes, 2.50 miles, 267 calories

Today's Favorite iPod Workout Song

Men Without Hats, "The Safety Dance" 4:32

More Pure 80's

Today's stats: 40 minutes, 2.26 miles, 242 calories

No record breaking here-the ragweed and tree pollen counts are way off the charts. (What are trees doing pollinating this time of year anyways?! I bet it's the live oaks. Sneezing curses on your year-round greenability!) But while my head is fuzzy-congested, my legs still work!